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MANILA, Philippines—Mitoy Yonting, a Pangasinan-hailing Metro Manila resident gifted with an unusual rock baritone, has emerged as the first ever winner of “The Voice of the Philippines,” besting fellow finalists Klarisse De Guzman, Janice Javier and Myk Perez.

The verdict came mainly through viewer votes in the show’s grand finale tonight, the show’s 32nd episode since debuting last June 15 and becoming a consistent primetime top rater for ABS-CBN. The finale aired live over the broadcast network’s main channel as it was held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

Right before the big winner was announced tonight, Salonga remarked to Yonting, whose many years of singing experience have made his vocalizations seem effortless, to let her be his “guardian angel, [constantly] watching over [his] shoulder” as he makes his way in the music biz.

Yonting and his fellow finalists went onstage several times in tonight’s finale but not always on their own. Yonting was first part of an unlikely trio with his coach Lea and guest performer Vice Ganda, all for a take on the Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” that was grandiose as it was comedic.

The three other finalists were also in a jam, as it were, with their respective coaches. Javier and Pineda found themselves in a rather surreal vocal free-for-all with iconic folk singer Lolita Carbon, who was nevertheless game for their mashup of Asin’s ‘Himig ng Pag-ibig’ and the Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Time of Your Life’. Perez and Mañalac were playful with a take on the Bamboo tune “Morning Rose.” And De Guzman and Geronimo took on Elton John’s “Your Song” with rather misplaced operatic accents by the otherwise swell Robert Sena.

Some two hours after the finale kicked off, host Toni Gonzaga announced the two finalists who earned the biggest combined total number of votes from the evening thus far and last night’s penultimate episode—revealing that, in no particular order, De Guzman and Yonting got the most number of votes. Gonzaga went on to reveal that Javier was the unofficial 3rd-place finisher, with Perez in 4th place.

Mitoy Yonting owes John Farnham for this deal-sealing rendition of The Beatles’ “Help!”:

Because, hey, why stop there: voting lines were opened anew for Yonting and De Guzman to earn votes from scratch and they had to perform a new solo number each: she a serene take on Leo Valdez’s “Magsimula Ka,” he a cover of The Beatles’ “Help!” but a la the pop-rock bombast of English-Australian singer John Farnham. In the end, majority of viewers “helped” Yonting emerge as the first Philippine winner of the international “Voice” franchise, which began with the debut of “The Voice of Holland” in September 2010. “The Voice of the Philippines” is the fourth Southeast Asian edition of the show.

Yonting had briefly been in showbiz before, and was for a while a comedian-singer mainstay on “Eat...Bulaga!” After several gigs abroad as a band singer, such as in Japan, he is currently the frontman of Draybers, a house showband at Bar 360 (also in Resorts World).

In Saturday night’s episode, Mitoy did an explosive rock opera-tic reading of Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak” as arranged by Gerard Salonga, though the tune has actually long been part of the Draybers’ setlist.

As the winner of “The Voice of the Philippines,” Yonting brings home a 2 million cash prize and a 4-year recording contract with MCA Universal, among other prizes.—Rappler.com

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Welcome to Rappler, a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change. Rappler comes from the root words "rap" (to discuss) + "ripple" (to make waves).